4 international startups not to be missed at TIA Tokyo 2018

nBesides being the third largest economy in the world after United States and China, Japan has the world’s eleventh largest population. The country is also among the world’s most digital savvy – in a report which assessed how much a country adopts digital technologies, Japan moved up five spots and currently stands at 22nd place.

Coupled with the government doubling down its support to encourage entrepreneurship, it is no surprise then that the startup scene is heating up despite inherent cultural and language barriers, as entrepreneurs look to enter Japan.

Tech in Asia Tokyo 2018, taking place on September 20 and 21, will showcase some of these startups expanding their business into the unique Japan market. In addition to local startups who will be exhibiting their products and services, here are four international startups you should definitely check out.

n1) Blinking (Serbia)n

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nAs the world becomes increasingly digitalized, the question naturally arises – can we become purely digital citizens? Blinking seeks to make this happen through a system that allows for a safe digital identity which users have complete control over.

It uses biometrics and facial recognition technology to identify attempted access to your personal data, giving it immunity to duplications. Such data is then transported to the relevant parties when needed, via blockchain technology. The system is fast, safe and scalable.

Being a digital citizen with virtual proofs of identity means that all important personal documents could be stored in one database, accessible through a mobile device. Apart from pre-empting the probability of us forgetting to bring such documents, it makes our lives much more convenient and time-efficient. Long queues at the airport or the bank for identity-checking processes could be a thing of the past.

n2) ShareHub (Indonesia)n

A Nielsen study shows that 78 percent of Asians are willing to share their assets, while 81 percent are willing to borrow the assets of others. ShareHub, an online platform which connects borrowers and lenders, is a startup that to seeks to leverage on this trend. People are able to loan everyday items, such as a microwave or even a car, with payment facilitated through the startup’s website.

n3) Codezero (Malaysia)n

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nName cards can be bothersome. They cost money to print, are troublesome to carry around, and are damaging to our environment. According to Codezero, 15 trees are cut every minute to print name cards, of which 88 percent gets discarded.

Codezero seeks to end this waste by introducing digital name cards, and a network which allows the transmission of such name cards between users.

Legitimacy of the name cards will be ensured by each company having their own unique serial ID, which would have been registered with the Registrar of Companies. Name cards are transported between users via Codezero’s network, Z-wave, which utilizes unique sound waves that ensures the smooth and fast transmission of name cards.

n4) NotifyVisitors (India)n

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nBetter technology has allowed businesses to push the limits of either customer personalization, or customer analysis, for the benefit of both companies and customers. NotifyVisitors is one pioneer of such a trend, contributing in both ways.

It has a range of customer engagement software which sends personalized messages to customers, which has been shown to increase clickthrough rates by four times as compared to traditional methods of reaching out to customers via push notifications, email or SMS.

On the other hand, its analytics products facilitate personalization by dynamically categorizing customers into meaningful segments such as geography, allowing companies to better understand their different wants.

nSeize the perfect opportunity to break into Japan’s startup scene at #tiatokyo2018n

Are you an international startup eager to break into the Japanese startup scene? There is no need to wait any further! You can still apply to showcase your idea at Tech in Asia Tokyo 2018. To sweeten the deal, a 15 percent discount (ie. JPY 6,600) is applicable if you submit your booth application by this Sunday, 12 August.

Not ready to exhibit your startup yet, but want to know more about Japan’s unique tech ecosystem? The conference is the best time to learn from entrepreneurs and potential partners in the country. Simply get your tickets before this Sunday, 12 August to be eligible for a 15 percent discount (code: tiatokyo15)!